Mboko Lodge

The lounge, dining room and bar sit in the middle of a large grassy clearing. Elevated and open-sided, the thatched area has 360 degree views of the forest, plains and river from plenty of plush couches and padded bench seats. To one side, there's a lovely bar area with a stylish wooden counter top, and on the other is the dining room, where home-cooked fare is served for lunch and dinner. There's another spot down by the river with a bar and a few chairs that's perfect for an evening drink, and the wooden viewing deck hosts an impressive brass fire pit at its centre.

The twelve rooms are perched on the riverbank, and include two family suites that can sleep four. From the outside, the rustic canvas and timber tents don't look like much, but inside they're comfortable and feel perfectly cosy and welcoming. All have double beds at the centre of the room, draped with large white mosquito nets, and a wooden desk and chair at the front. Ensuite bathrooms are at the back, while the verandah looks out onto the river.

Game drives from Mboko explore the surrounding savannah areas and are top-notch for spotting forest elephant and buffalo by day, and hyena, aardvark and serval by night. Forest elephants, forest buffalo, snouted crocodiles and harnessed bushbuck are just some of the species you're likely to see here, and nowhere else. Take to the water and drift down the river in a traditional pirogue or kayak, or lace up your walking boots and navigate the bais and shallow streams on foot in search of putty-nosed monkeys. All activities can be combined to make the most of all the forest has to offer.